When I first started writing, the prospect of creating a pen name was enough to get me jumping with anticipation. Finally! A chance to give myself a more exciting last name than the one I was born with, or the unhyphenated, double-barrelled one I got through marriage... A THREAD Great! I thought. Not only could a good pen name give you ideal placement on the shelves, it could also make you more memorable, accessible, and marketable. In a crowded and competitive world of writers, it was important to be smart about these things.